Hampden has witnessed some special matches just recently. From Scotland beating Denmark to qualify for the World Cup, to St Mirren toppling Celtic to win the League Cup, the old place has seen some classics this year.
This was a whole new ball game as, for the second year in succession, Glasgow Warriors hosted rivals Edinburgh in their home leg of the 1872 Cup.
As a spectacle, it never really burst into life. It was a much more mundane affair than some of the madness witnessed at this place over recent weeks.
But Glasgow won’t care. Franco Smith’s side scored four tries, three of which came in a powerful second half, to secure a bonus-point win and got the job done with a bit to spare in the end.
With Smith donning a pair of tartan trews for the occasion, this first leg belonged to the men from Scotstoun, who were simply more clinical when it mattered than Edinburgh.
Sean Everitt’s visitors defended stoutly enough and competed hard at the breakdown, but they just didn’t fire enough shots in attack.
Warriors celebrate after Hiddleston grabs their third try of the afternoon
It could have been even better for the hosts but for Wes Goosen’s intervention on Jamie Dobie
There was a bluntness to Edinburgh, whereas Glasgow were able to find a cutting edge when they really needed to.
Given that the Warriors have won the 1872 Cup in each of the past three seasons, this felt like a continuation of the natural order in Scottish club rugby.
Smith’s teams will have designs on challenging for the URC title come the end of the season, whilst Edinburgh are still maddeningly inconsistent.
The Warriors tries came from Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Gregor Hiddleston and Seb Stephen, ensuring they have a 12-point lead ahead of next week’s second leg, with the winner decided by an aggregate scoreline.
Darge was outstanding for the home side and it will be he and his Glasgow team-mates who can enjoy the bragging rights over Christmas. Part one of the job is done.
Glasgow were looking to keep the momentum rolling after last weekend’s stunning victory over Toulouse in the Champions Cup.
Coming from 21-0 down to beat the six-time champions, Glasgow probably spent much of the week trying to keep their feet on the ground after claiming the greatest ever result for any Scottish club side.
Edinburgh head coach Everitt had named a much-changed team for their defeat away at Castres last week but they were restored to full strength with all their Scotland internationals for this derby clash.
Rory Darge was also held up as Warriors looked to extend their lead
There was a crackle in the air as the teams emerged prior to kick-off, and whilst ticket sales were down on the 27,000 at Hampden for this fixture last season, there was still a decent buzz in the crowd.
The official attendance of 21,093 will certainly help boost the coffers. But in a stadium like Hampden, with so many empty seats, there’s something about it that just doesn’t feel quite right.
Glasgow threatened early doors when a clever pass from Sione Tuipulotu allowed Kyle Steyn to burst through into a gap.
They won a penalty and could have taken an easy three points. But, after opting to go for the corner, Edinburgh’s maul defence thwarted Glasgow.
But the capital side’s resistance wouldn’t last for long. With 10 minutes on the clock, Glasgow’s relentless pressure eventually saw Fagerson power over from close range to score the opening try.
Adam Hastings knocked over the conversion and Glasgow had a 7-0 lead to show for their early dominance in both territory and possession.
Edinburgh were struggling to really fire a shot in attack. They were defending well enough and competing well at the breakdown, but weren’t offering much when they had the ball.
There was a moment when they worked the ball to Duhan van der Merwe, only for Glasgow jerseys to swarm around him and extinguish any danger.
Just before the half-hour, Edinburgh finally managed to land a blow. They worked their way down into the Glasgow 22 and looked to attack from the lineout.
The push from Edinburgh was mighty, splintering the Glasgow defence and allowing Dylan Richardson to dart through and score.
Seb Stephen did eventually make the game safe for Franco Smith’s side
Cammy Scott failed with the conversion as the score remained 7-5 to Glasgow. It had been a scrappy, hard-fought first half which lacked moments of outright quality in attack.
Jamie Dobie, who had been moved from scrum-half to the wing, had a great chance for Glasgow after sidestepping Darcy Graham following a lovely pass from Hastings.
But he held on to the ball for too long when it really ought to have been fed back inside to George Horne. It typified how wasteful Glasgow had been.
The Warriors were pounding away, and even had the ball over Edinburgh’s try line on a couple of occasions, only to be held up by some heroic defending from the visitors.
Leading by only two points at half-time, that felt like scant reward for how much control Glasgow enjoyed during the opening 40 minutes. But Glasgow stretched their lead 10 minutes into the second half when they once again tried to pummel their way over from close range.
Darge was the man who eventually touched down underneath the posts and Hastings’ conversion put the Warriors 14-5 ahead.
It was a quickfire double as, only five minutes later, Hiddleston scored Glasgow’s third try of the afternoon, with Hastings striking the upright with his conversion.
Adam Hastings applauds the 21,000 or so fans who made the trip to Hampden
Now two converted scores behind at 19-5, Edinburgh were hanging on. Scrum-half Ben Vellacott made a brilliant line break and looked like he might score, only to be hauled down by his opposite number Horne.
Graham also threatened to break through for Edinburgh but he was bundled into touch by a terrific tackle from Ollie Smith, who was having a fine game for Glasgow.
This is part of the frustration with Edinburgh. Having beaten Toulon only a couple of weeks ago, they continue to be plagued by inconsistency.
Even with weapons like Scotland’s wing duo in Graham and Van der Merwe, they aren’t anywhere near clinical enough in attack.
Van der Merwe was eventually taken off with 13 minutes to play and let’s just say he didn’t look best pleased about it.
Edinburgh finally managed to rouse themselves and scored a try through Grant Gilchrist, stemming from another lineout and more powerful forward play.
The conversion from Ross Thompson was good and, suddenly, with nine minutes remaining, we had a game on.
But there was always a sense that Glasgow had another couple of gears should they need them. They removed any doubt about the outcome with a fourth try to secure the bonus-point win a few minutes before full-time.
It was replacement hooker Stephen who went over, easing Glasgow to a 24-12 victory in the end. Edinburgh had fought bravely but failed to do enough in attack.
The Warriors were clinical and efficient. Ahead of next week’s second leg, they must surely fancy their chances of taking the 1872 Cup home again.